By Ian Dunkley
Check out the photo gallery Original Invitation brochure
Our second series of “Vintage Kiwi Rallies”, despite bad weather at Taupo and because of only half hearted sand flies at Nelson Lakes were a success. Over the two rallies we flew around 150 hours, had a lot of launches, accurate totals being lost with my notes. Participants/visitors, including those who were also captive members of the club, came to 39, and 19 qualified gliders were present, ranging from NZ’s oldest airworthy glider, EoN Baby GAF, to a Nimbus 2, which qualifies as “classic”, although flown by a non-member who will be spoken to. Quite a bit of “discussion” took place, some of it even productive, and the results are already being seen, or will be incorporated in next years events.
That sums up the 2005 rallies so “What else do you want to know to encourage you to join in next year?”, “More detail, O.K, here goes”.
Two rallies, two quite different sites, Taupo locally flat, with a king size lake, local hill, with some more serious stuff within flying distance, including one of the smoking variety. Nelson Lakes cannot be described as flat, the lakes themselves excepted, for most of the big stuff falls into the jagged category, although there are some gentler slopes reachable from a winch launch as stepping-stones.
To put it mildly the weather at Taupo could not be described as good for flying, rain, low cloud, wind not where we wanted it all the time, and thermals; well we did get some. However all those taking part enjoyed themselves which is of course the main thing, although the weather meant that some came without aircraft or others for only part of the week. Pride of place must go to John Currie who not only had two gliders to fly but also arrived in his Jodel at the beginning of the week, departed and came back later in his car. This, if I had got around to it, would have earned him “Man of the Rally” award, so I owe him a bottle of wine next year.
The local hill/mountain/dormant volcano, when you could see it, provided some lift and was also useful as a bolthole for the variable thermals and was used on the days when we could fly. The social side went on much as usual with a “BBQ”, “ a Chinese Take Away Eat in”, plus group trips to the fish and chip shop, the weather preventing the more exotic events.
We again had international visitors during the week including Roy Eichendorf from Canada who came over to fly his Ka6, so we are doing our bit for the tourist industry as well. Other overseas visitors included scale model enthusiasts who unfortunately arrived after the two VK modeller members left with the scale Baby Bowlus they flew. The latter giving us the chance of seeing a glider that never flew full size in New Zealand. Next year modellers will be taking part in the rally.
At Nelson the weather was great, the sandflies subdued, although the pharmacies had obviously done well with repellent and factor x sun cream. Whilst the local ridges did not work as well as hoped they would, they, with thermals as a bonus, enabled April Rumsey to make three 5 hour attempts, one only just falling short, in her Ka6cr. This fortitude, perhaps stubbornness in the face of adversity, describes it better, earning her “Woman of the Rally” as it was considered at better example than shown by the two pilot who achieved 5 hours in one go, and another similarly100km who only provided beer.
On the good days it was very good, many pilots disappearing into the mountains for hours on end, Terry Delore arriving one evening and departing the following morning in his 10 year old ASH25, leaving us commenting that in perhaps 2025 he could stay as it would qualify as “classic”. My own highlight of the week being taking a 78 year old lady, who said she would never fly, rock scrapping along the St Arnaud range for an hour. She wants to do it again.
Thanks are due to both the Taupo and Nelson Clubs for hosting our rallies and not inviting us back next year, the dates being Taupo 28th Jan to 4th Feb and Nelson Lakes 25th Feb to 5th March. See you there?
